If It Ain't One Thing . . . .

Some months ago, I pledged to complain only about those things I cannot change.  Therefore, and since I'm complaining for a few people, I feel justified.  (No, I'm not going to take on the economy or the U.S.'s policies abroad.  That will wait for another day.  Ha ha.)

Last fall, I had promised (hmm, maybe I'd better change the names to protect the innocent) "my relations" that I'd care for their kiddos for this week around Memorial Day Weekend.  We settled on 5 days of toddler & babe care with two days "off" in the middle for me so I could be in my gallery in town on Saturday & Sunday with the hopes of garnering the first of the tourist season's business.

So, it was a double whammy ("No whammies, no whammies!"  Anyone remember that game show?) that I woke up Monday morning sick as a dog.  Talking to "my relations" on Monday & Tuesday, we decided that I needed another full day for recovery (yesterday), and so I wouldn't start my nannying stint until today.  That means that my relations would lose 1 day of the week of work they'd planned on.  Not ideal, but better than both of their little ones getting sick and me, without proper rest & recup, getting sicker.


Having also long-ago decided that we'd switch vehicles for the duration so that they could have the use of my big, 1-ton pickup, we'd planned the trade for Tuesday night.  So, that afternoon, I slogged outside and loaded into the truck the generator, some tools & extension cords, and all the scaffolding, etc. that they'd be borrowing.  Yes, I probably SHOULD have waited for their help with all of this but I wanted to be able to crash that night, and none of us knew how late they'd be coming to do the trade.  I strapped down the load, wrote them a note, left the keys in the truck and went inside to lay down and watch a movie.


Just as I was setting up the chick flick, the dogs began barking - announcing the much-earlier-than-I'd-expected arrival of the mama and kids for the vehicle exchange.  I went downstairs in my stinky, sick-infused jammies for a quick greet sans hugs due to germies.  As I walked towards the car, I saw the mama unpacking the kids.  (More than I expected for a quick vehicle transfer.)  When she saw me, one little one in arms and the other toddling out to giggle at the dogs, she called, "I need a DRINK and a place for my family to sleep!  In that order!"


And, with that note of anticipation, I leave you, dear reader, for my first day of nannying.  I need to jump in the shower to try to disinfect myself.  I will leave you with this teaser, though:  this morning's installment was brought to you by doggie diahrrea.

(I'll try really hard to get back to you tonight.  Barring sickness/exhaustion.)